Foundation
Repair Problems

what are the most common FOUNDATION problems IN OREGON & WASHINGTON?

The unique combination of heavy rainfall, expansive clay soils, and seismic activity in Oregon and Washington often accelerates foundation deterioration. Poor drainage systems can lead to water pooling around your home, increasing hydrostatic pressure and causing walls to bow or crack. Additionally, seasonal soil expansion and contraction can result in uneven settling, creating gaps around windows and doors. These environmental factors make it essential for homeowners to address foundation repair problems promptly to avoid costly repairs and ensure long-term structural stability.

If you’ve noticed cracks in your basement walls or floor, you may have significant foundation issues. Cracks, leaky walls, and tilting chimneys are some of the early signs of a settling or shifting foundation or an indication of more serious foundation repair problems.

These are some common signs of foundation issues homeowners in Portland, Roseburg, and up through the Seattle & Tacoma areas have asked TerraFirma to diagnose and fix:

Foundation Repair Signs of Issues small foundation repair
FN RES FR Sagging Floor 04 1024x683 1 foundation repair
When the soil beneath a building’s foundation compresses or shifts unequally, it causes parts of the foundation to sink or settle more than others. This uneven settling commonly results in noticeable sloping or uneven floors.
Foundation Settlement
cracked wall in basement foundation small foundation repair
Common symptoms of this problem include horizontal or stair step cracking along the foundation wall, diagonal cracks in the corners, crumbling walls and inward bulges.
Look for spalling cracks or delamination which can impact structural integrity.
Cracks in Foundation and Basement Walls
window door stuck jammed small foundation repair
If your windows and/or doors are sticking, jamming, or your doors have non-functioning locks, you could have a foundation problem. Other common signs include door openings that aren’t square and diagonal cracks at top corners of window and door openings.
Jammed Windows and Sticking Doors
tilting chimney small foundation repair
A leaning or tilting chimney, generally accompanied by cracks where the chimney foundation meets the home foundation. Damage to the roof where flashing meets the chimney, or gaps between the chimney and home walls that have been filled in with mortar, foam, or caulk.
Tilting Chimneys
cracked sidewalk uneven small foundation repair
Driveways in our region can often become cracked and sunken. Issues with the soil underneath those concrete driveway slabs are usually accompanied by concrete sidewalk cracks and raised sidewalks.
Cracked and Uneven Sidewalks & Driveways
efflorescence small foundation repair
Water stains on concrete walls are caused by mineral deposits from the water drying on the concrete. Efflorescence stains appear as a white or grayish ash on the wall.
Keep an eye on basement walls getting yellow, orange or black stains as these are all symptoms related to moisture getting in.
These are also signs that soil or hydrostatic pressure outside the foundation walls could lead to foundation failure.
Stained Basement Walls + Efflorescence
FN RES FR Sagging Floor 04 1024x683 1 foundation repair
Foundation Settlement

When the soil beneath a building’s foundation compresses or shifts unequally, it causes parts of the foundation to sink or settle more than others. This uneven settling commonly results in noticeable sloping or uneven floors.

cracked wall in basement foundation small foundation repair
Cracks in Foundation and Basement Walls

Common symptoms of this problem include horizontal or stair step cracking along the foundation wall, diagonal cracks in the corners, crumbling walls and inward bulges.
Look for spalling cracks or delamination, which can impact structural integrity.

window door stuck jammed small foundation repair
Jammed Windows and Sticking Doors

If your windows and/or doors are sticking, jamming, or your doors have non-functioning locks, you could have a foundation problem. Other common signs include door openings that aren’t square and diagonal cracks at top corners of window and door openings.

tilting chimney small foundation repair
Tilting Chimneys

A leaning or tilting chimney, generally accompanied by cracks where the chimney foundation meets the home foundation. Damage to the roof where flashing meets the chimney, or gaps between the chimney and home walls that have been filled in with mortar, foam, or caulk.

cracked sidewalk uneven small foundation repair
Cracked and Uneven Sidewalks & Driveways

Driveways in our region can often become cracked and sunken. Issues with the soil underneath those concrete driveway slabs are usually accompanied by concrete sidewalk cracks and raised sidewalks.

efflorescence small foundation repair
Stained Basement Walls + Efflorescence

Water stains on concrete walls are caused by mineral deposits from the water drying on the concrete. Efflorescence stains appear as a white or grayish ash on the wall.
Keep an eye on basement walls getting yellow, orange or black stains as these are all symptoms related to moisture getting in.
These are also signs that soil or hydrostatic pressure outside the foundation walls could lead to foundation failure.

Cracks in Basement Floors

Cracks in basement floors are more common than you might expect! If you’re unsure whether it’s a foundation or crawl space issue, note whether the visible problem is centered around the interior or exterior of the structure. Interior cracks in a concrete basement floor often indicate settling or shifting soil beneath the home, while exterior cracks may point to drainage issues or hydrostatic pressure from water buildup. Ignoring these signs of cracks in basement floors can lead to worsening structural damage, increased energy costs, and even potential safety hazards over time. That’s why you should look into repairs as soon as you notice any issues.

Here in Oregon and Washington, homeowners frequently benefit from waterproofing as part of their total foundation or basement floor crack repair. Which of these symptoms do you see around your home?

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TF foundation repair icon s foundation repair
Foundation
Settlement
TF Crawl Space Repair icon s foundation repair
Crawl Space
Structural Issue
TF Basement Waterproofing icon s foundation repair
Basement
Waterproofing Issue
Cracks in basement floor tf expert check foundation repair   tf expert check foundation repair
Cracks in foundation & basement walls tf expert check foundation repair   tf expert check foundation repair
Leaking cracks in foundation walls tf expert check foundation repair   tf expert check foundation repair
Sticking or cracked exterior doors and windows tf expert check foundation repair    
Sticking or cracked interior doors tf expert check foundation repair tf expert check foundation repair  
Sinking, sagging floors tf expert check foundation repair tf expert check foundation repair  
Cracked or sagging floor joist support beams tf expert check foundation repair tf expert check foundation repair  
Floor crack with water seeping up tf expert check foundation repair   tf expert check foundation repair
Standing water in crawl space   tf expert check foundation repair  
Tilting chimney tf expert check foundation repair    

Schedule your free
Foundation Evaluation

Schedule your free
Foundation Evaluation

Why is my foundation Settling or Sinking?

Whether you’re in the rainy north, from Sea-Tac to Portland to Eugene, or in the drier south like Roseburg or Medford–there are numerous reasons why you might be facing foundation problems.
TerraFirma has decades of proven expertise in addressing these issues.

expanding soil icon

Certain types of soils in the Pacific Northwest absorb water and expand, exerting significant pressure against the foundation, causing it to move creating cracks in the foundation or gaps in your floors.

shrinking soil icon

Consolidating soil causes soil to shrink and compact. This undermines the foundation, making it unable to support the weight of the house evenly. Houses built on hills or with a hot, southern-facing exterior are particularly susceptible and commonly present issues such as sticky doors and windows.

water and moisture under foundation icon

Water can seep in through cracks in the floor or walls of a basement, expanding and putting pressure on the concrete. Water and moisture issues can create water stains, cracks, misaligned floors and doors throughout your home.

drainage icon

Improper drainage, like clogged gutters and downspouts pointed toward your home can cause soil erosion around the foundation allowing water to seep into your basement.

tf cheap building foundation repair

Cheap building materials, poor planning, and shoddy work all spell trouble for a home’s foundation. Inaccurate grading, poorly placed structural reinforcements, and not properly compacted soil can all cause damage.

tf trees planted close foundation repair

Trees planted too close to your foundation can pose a slow-growing problem. Roots, seeking water, force themselves between hairline cracks in concrete. The roots of mature trees expand and contract as they soak up water, displacing the earth underneath a home’s foundation.

Schedule your free
Foundation Evaluation

Schedule your free
Foundation Evaluation

Basement Walls Crumbling

Your home often sends clear signs when its foundation is failing. Cracked or buckling walls are the most common signs of a crumbling foundation and stress in your home’s support system. Basements in the Pacific Northwest often have cracked and crumbling basement walls and floors.

These issues are often caused by the region’s heavy rainfall, which leads to water pooling around the foundation and increasing hydrostatic pressure. Over time, this pressure can cause walls to bow or shift, compromising the structural integrity of your home, which leads to basement walls crumbling. Additionally, poor drainage systems and expansive clay soils can exacerbate these problems, leading to uneven settling and further damage. Ignoring these warning signs can result in costly repairs and even reduce your property’s overall value.

Not all signs of basement walls crumbling are symptoms of serious damage, but these signs are strong signals that it is time for a professional evaluation:

  • Leaking from your basement walls
  • Spelling and rust-colored cracks indicate corroding rebar
  • Efflorescence on concrete or cinder block walls

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Our team has over 20 years of experience fixing foundations across Oregon & Washington.
Check out their helpful Homeowner Tips and some great Case Studies of our Foundation Repair work.

foundation
Homeowner
REVIEWS

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Roseburg to Eugene, Portland to Seattle, our Foundation Repair work speaks for itself

Bailey was timely and thorough in his assessment, estimate, and reporting on my inquiry about a foundation crack. Although I decided not to have any work done at this time I was pleased with their service.
Noah was a pleasure to work with and demonstrated a high level of professionalism. He was patient in answering all of my questions and displayed extensive knowledge and expertise. He provided three separate proposals for foundation repairs.
Walt listened to my concerns and did a thorough job of evaluating the foundation. When he finished, he took the time to explain what was normal settling, and what was concerning. He pointed out that I had a drainage problem around the foundation that needed attention, and might prevent the settling from becoming critical. I loved that he was not just out to sell me a service!!! I feel like I can trust his recommendations when I have him back to see if the new drainage solved the problem. Thanks Walt!!!
James and his crew were efficient, kind, and exceeded my expectations. My foundation was needed piers both outside and in the basement, yet they were quick and cleaned up. I even noticed a change in my home’s interior when it was fixed! Cracks closed up. They took care of the whole process, including permits and inspections. And, James communicated, including walking me through, clearly listening to my responses. I recommend TerraFirma, especially James who was the foreman on my job, especially to those who want to be respected, want to understand what is happening, and want good communication throughout the job.
The crew did a great job fixing our sinking foundation! Two days and they came in and dug everything up then set the anchors and then backfilled! Great Job!
Seth came out to evaluate my foundation and gave me one of the most thorough and honest assessments I've experienced from a contractor. Professional, communicative, and zero pressure — he clearly takes pride in his work. I didn't move forward with the project through Terra Firma, but that has nothing to do with Seth or the quality of his visit. Highly recommend requesting him specifically. 5 stars.
We had some basement flooding in our house and after learning the cause, we started the work of getting quotes and inspections from Foundation specialists. When we called TerraFirma, Bailey was able to make time for our inspection within the week. From the jump, Bailey was very communicative, and set expectations upfront. He asked what was going on, looked at some suspected intrusion points and then let me know he'd carry on with the inspection and would let me know when he was ready for me. No awkward standing around or wondering how long it would take. Bailey was very thorough with his inspection and had an impressive presentation once he'd made a diagnosis. He told me his ideas and then asked me mine and we both felt good about the plan walking away from it. Ultimately our timeline didn't work out and we personally had to go a different direction, but if it did I'm confident we'd be in good hands with Bailey and TerraFirma!
If you hire this company to put sump pumps in your basement, make sure you know exactly where they are going to put them and where the pipes that will pump the water outside will be coming out of your house. Even though one guy gives you a diagram ahead of time, that doesn’t mean the guy actually doing the work follows it. One sump pump was put in our basement just as we expected. The second one was not. We provided new electrical outlets dedicated for use to the sump pumps. The second pump now has cords hanging in mid air barely reaching the new plugs because that pump was not put where they told us it would be. Also, the pipes that take the water away from the house, we expected those to go through the foundation, not through the expensive cedar siding and be exposed on the front of our house! I was horrified to see those holes and said so. My husband redirected them to drill through the foundation so the pipes could not be seen once the work was done. They did that, but now we are left with holes to repair. They did not offer to repair them. The young men who did the work were kind and respectful and did what they thought were expected of them, but if you hire this company, make sure you know exactly where they are going to put everything and not assume anything even if you have a diagram!
My home is situated on a hillside that slopes south to north and east to west. My foundation stem walls along with my concrete floor were sinking and my floor was out of level. Terra Firma came and sunk several tubes down fifty-seven feet to stabalize my stem wall footings and they injected foam in several areas of my concrete floor to make it level again. They did a fantastic job and they were thourough and left my home in the same condition before they began the work. The only complaint I have is that the estimator indicated that many of the cracks in the concrete floor would close up with the foam and they did not.
Bailey came out to do an inspection of our foundation to let us know what shape it was in and what kind of work might need to be done. He was thorough and honest about the condition of our foundation so we could make informed decisions about next steps with our property.

Foundation Repair Homeowner Questions

Are cracks in a basement floor normal?

Cracks in concrete are common. However, cracks are symptoms of potentially larger issues. The size, placement, and direction of cracks in your basement floor or walls can give insghts into the nature of the issue. Schedule your free in-home inspection with TerraFirma to learn more.

When should I worry about cracks in my basement floor?

You should be concerned about foundation cracks if the cracks in your basement floor are wider than 1/8 inch, spread to and up the foundation walls, appear in a circular pattern, are wet or show signs of water intrusion, have mold around them, have a white flaky substance around them

Are foundation repairs covered by homeowner’s insurance?

Insuance policies vary from home to home and company to company. The best action is always to speak with your insurance company to understand what is covered under your specific policy. Generally, home owners insurance will cover repairs if the damage can be tied back to an event e.g. leaky water heater, tree fell on house etc.

Does foundation repair affect/increase home value?

Yes. A damaged foundation can cause significant loss in property value, as well as potentially scaring off interested buyers. Repairing a damaged foundation helps restore the lost value in a home, and can even increase value when the repairs carry a transferable and long term warranty.

How long does foundation repair take?

Scope, size, and type of repair can vary, as will the amount of time a repair can take. However, most repairs can be made within a few days.